A historic city-owned kiosk in Harvard Square that once held a famous newsstand is expected to open in early 2025 with programming by the Cambridge Office for Tourism and the organization CultureHouse.
The Cambridge Kiosk will be a cultural incubator, community gathering space and visitor information center within its 500 square feet, according to a Friday press release.
Community members can play a role: Applications are open to serve on an advisory committee that will oversee operation, and CultureHouse has posted an interest form for artists, nonprofit and businesses who want to put on events and activities there.
“By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square,” City Manager Yi-An Huang said in the press release.
The structure began as an entrance to the square’s subway station in 1927. It was moved to it current location and hosted the Out of Town Newsstand from 1983 until the store’s closing in 2019. (The newsstand opened in 1955 and operated in a nearby structure for its first three decades.) The kiosk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated a Cambridge landmark in 2017.
Renovations of the kiosk and surrounding brick plaza costing $4.6 million included historians as well as a team of architects and engineers.
Kathy Watkins, the city’s commissioner of public works, urged visitors to “take a moment to look up at the details of the roof, the interior wood ceiling and the brick columns that have been painstakingly restored, and the modern windows, open entrances and cabinetry that were thoughtfully designed to complement the historic elements. I hope you can get a sense of the attention that went into the design and construction of the building, as well as all of the history and texture contained within.”
“The kiosk has adapted over its nearly 100 years to meet the needs of the community,” Watkins said.
CultureHouse has experience at the kiosk; the organization programmed its use in 2019 after the newsstand closed but before renovations. The organization has marketed itself as a “living room for the community” or “indoor public park,” but is now a programmer of outdoor spaces as well. It ran a beer garden, markets and events in Somerville’s Gilman Square over the summer.
Get updates on activities at the kiosk by signing up here or by visiting cambridgekiosk.org.
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Who doesn’t love standing in a tiny kiosk on an island surrounded by incessant honking and pollution from raging motorists. Such an absolute waste of tax payer money